Page 144 of Challenge Me

“I’m tired.”

“Looks like you slept all day.”

Tipping his head back, he let the water run over his face. I moved closer and slid my hands around his sides until my fingers laced behind him. Yanking him forward, I kissed his jaw, which finally made him touch me back.

“Let’s take a break,” I murmured.

“I have to get to work.”

“Tonight, yeah, but what about Saturday?”

“We’re open six days a week. You know that.”

“So, get Oli or Dean to cover.”

Tucking his face against my neck, he breathed me in. “It’s the busiest day, and won’t you be in Georgia?”

“We can be in Georgia.”

With his head on my shoulder, he craned his neck to look up at me. “You want me to come with you?”

“Of course I do. Trav and Roman invited us to stay at their place.”

He snorted, but a familiar smile took up residence on his face. “You two are going to start rumors. The world will think we’re swingers.”

“Nah, only the overly parasocial ones will.”

“So, most.”

“But not all.”

The look on his face told me he was in agreement. I tipped my head to kiss his temple.

“We need to meet with a journalist tomorrow.”

He stiffened. “For what?”

“Just a puff piece they’re going to write. No cameras. And we’re meeting at an Italian restaurant, so there’s food involved.”

I thought it might help soften him to the idea, but he just nodded without looking at me.

“Can I come with you to the bar?” I asked.

“To what? Sit around and drink all night? Actually, drinking sounds like a fine idea.”

“To be with you. Maybe you can teach me some things so I’m more than just a bat fucker.”

Finally, he looked at me, and there was a brilliant smile on his face. “You’re going to regret asking me to coach you.”

“Oh, I know. I’ll try anything once, though.”

Turning him around, I ran my fingers through his hair. He tipped his head back and let me wash it.

In here, I could almost pretend that this was exactly what our future held. It was part of it, but so were the things we had to do out there. And if they made him look this dismal or caused him to stay in bed until three in the afternoon, I had to ask myself if this was really what was best for Remi. If I was best for Remi.

*****

“Do you like it here?” I asked.